Luminous sign



Sept. 23, 1958 w. A. GOEBEL ET AL 2,352,877

LUMINQUS SIGN Filed Dec. 10, 1954 2 She ets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR5 WILL/4M A-GOEBEL AQTF/UE c. 6/555 ATTOQ VE Y6 Sept. 23, 1958 w. A. GOEBEL ET AL2,852,377

LUMINOUS SIGN Filed Dec. 10, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In Vi lidlk ni"INVENTORj WILL/AM Av GOEBEL AETHUE c. @1554? 4 TTOQ/VE KS United StatesPatent fitice I 2,852,877 Patented Sept. 23, 1958 LUMINOUS SIGN WilliamA. Goebel and Arthur C. Giese, Peru, Ill. Application December 10, 1954,Serial No. 474,391 3 Claims. (Cl. 40-130) The present invention relatesto luminous signs of the gaseous discharge tube type.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a luminoussign in which the legend is formed by a groove cut in a transparentplate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a luminous signhaving a transparent panel in which is cut a groove including loopformations, each part of the loop formation being luminous and beingpart of a continuous channel or groove in which flows the gaseousdischarge.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means forblocking out the transmission of light through the transparent panel ofthe luminous sign for those portions of the groove forming the ruddersof the sign where it connects letters or punctuation.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a sturdyluminous sign of the kind having a tortuous path of ionized gas which ismade luminous by the passage of a current of electricity therethroughand one providing special means by which loop formation or designs maybe included in the legend.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will befully apparent from the following description, when taken in connectionwith the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure l is an isometric view of invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical view in cross-section taken on line 2-2 of Figure1,

Figure 3 is an end view on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a reverse view in perspective of the sign shown at Figure 1,with a portion removed,

Figure 5 is a second sign formed with script letters including loopformations,

Figure 6 is an exploded view of the sign shown in Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a detailed view in perspective of a portion of the presentinvention,

Figure 8 is a detailed view of a portion of the invention,

Figure 9 is an end view on line 9--9 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a second embodiment of the means for closing the loopformation of a legend within a sign,

Figure 11 is an assembled view of the means shown in Figure 10,

Figure 12 is an end view on line 12-12 of Figure 11, also incross-section, and

Figure 13 is a detailed view of a means for joining two of the lettersof the legend of the sign seen in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings in which like numeralsindicate like parts throughout the several views, the first embodimentof the present invention consists of a transparent plate 10, seen inFigures 1 to 4, having an opaque backing panel 11 secured to it in faceto face relation. A groove 12 is cut into the confronting face of thetransparent plate 10 to form the letters a sign of the present of thelegend, here shown as the word Store. The groove 12 extends from one endof the plate 10 to the other with a metallic or glass tube 13 insertedin each end portion and constituting a means by which the gas, such asneon, is introduced to the groove 12 and also forming a means by which acurrent of electricity is introduced, a wire 14 having one end sealedwithin the tube 13.

In Figure 4, it will be seen that the groove 12 between the letters maybe made non-luminous by a light blocking means or an opaque channelshaped shield 15 which is inserted within the groove before the backingpanel 11 seals the groove.

In the second embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 5 to 7,inclusive, the transparent plate 16 is arranged in confronting face toface relation with the opaque plate or panel 17, and a secondtransparent plate 18 is aflixed in confronting face to face relationwith the other side of the panel 17.

A groove 19 is formed in each of the plates 16 and 18 and constitutesthe legend of the sign of this embodiment of the invention, the legendbeing in script, including 1 loop formations for each of the letters Land E.

In this embodiment of the invention, a recess 20 is cut in theconfronting face of each of the plates 16 and 18, the former being shownin detail in Figure 7, into which fits a block 21 in which is cut agroove 22 on the side which seats within the recess 20, and a groove 23is cut on the other side of the block 21, which, when it is insertedwithin the recess 20, will be contiguous with and coplanar with theconfronting surface of the plate 16. This permits the ends of the loopformation indicated by the reference numerals 24 and 25 to be connectedto the groove ends 26 and 27, in order that the upper end 28 of theletter become a part of the continuous channel or groove forming atube-like gaseous discharge device.

As seen in Figure 6, a second block 29 is insertable within a recessformed for the other letter having the loop formation.

Referring to Figure 10, another method. of closing or connecting the endportion of a groove to cause the gas to flow continuously through theloop formation of a letter is shown in which the plate 30, likewiseconstructed of a transparent material, and a plate 31 are joinedtogether with their confronting faces formed with grooves 32 and 33,respectively.

A block 34 is provided and is insertable within a recess formed in theplate 31 to cover and seal a portion of the groove 33 so that only itsends are connected to the ends of the grooves 32 on the plate 30.

Referring to Figure 13, the present invention takes the form of a plate35 cast from a transparent plastic or resin material and in which thepieces of metallic tubing 36 are positioned before the castingoperation, the letters of this form of the invention being routed orgrooved from the one face of the plate 35, as indicated by the referencenumeral 37, and connected with the open and flared ends of the pieces oftubing 36 to permit the passage of gas from one letter to the other, andto provide an electrode for the ionizing current.

Referring to Figures 8 and 9, a means is shown for filling the groove 38in the transparent plate 39 and consists of an aperture 40 and athreaded hole 41 into which screws the thumb-screw 42 to blockcommunication between the aperture 40 and the groove 38. In thisembodiment, an electrode 43 is provide by means of which the groove 38is connected to an electrical device producing high tension current formaking luminous the ionized gas that has been put into the groove 38.

In each of the embodiments, it is intended that the transparent platecan be constructed of any dielectric material such as'plastic, glass, orthe like, and may be molded, cast, or otherwise formed in any one of theembodiments of the present invention.

While, only-preferred embodiments of the. present inventionare. shownanddescribed, other. embodiments and' modifications may be made andpracticed within the. scope ofltheappended claims, without departingfrom the spirit offthe invention.

What is claimed. is:

1. A display sign comprisinga. transparent plate, a backing panelsecured to said plate, in confronting face to face-relation withrespectto said plate, said transparent plate being formedon its confrontingface. with a continuous groove constitutinga series of lettersrepresenting a. legend, said groove including at least one loopformation, said'plate being formed with av recess extending,inwardlyfrom the confrontingface-thereof'at a point where the groove wouldnormally intersect it'selfin av crossover at one end ofa loopformationif there were no recess, and a block secured in. said recessand being formed on one face with a groove connected in. com? municationwith the two ends of. said grooves in said. plate which normally wouldbe one portion of the cross over and being formed on the other face witha groovev connected in communication with the two endsof'said' groovesin said plate which would normally bev the other portion of the crossover.

2. A display sign comprising a transparent. plate,v a backing panel.secured to said plate, in confrontingjace to face relation. with respectto said 'plate, saidltransparent plate being formed'on. it'sconfrontingv face-with a con-.

tinuous groove constitutinga series. of letters representing alegend,fsaid"groove including at least oneloop f'ormation, said platebeing formed. with a recessextending inwardly fromthe confrontingfacethereof at a point.

where the groove would normally intersect itselfin' a cross over at oneend of a loop formation if'there were no recess, a block secured in saidrecess" andbeing formed on one face with agroove connected'in'communication With the two ends of said grooves in' said plate. which.normally would be one portion of the cross over and-"being formedon theother face with a groove'con-v rooves in said plate which normallywould'be the other portion of the cross over, and a light blocking meansreceived in the portions of said plate groove between adjacent ones ofsaid letters for rendering said plate groove portions non-luminous.

3. A luminous display sign comprising a transparent plate of dielectricmaterial, a backing panel secured to said plate in confronting face toface relation with respect to said plate, said transparent plate beingformed on its confronting. facei with a. continuous groove constitutinga seriesofletters. representing a legend and forming a gaseous dischargedevice, said groove including atleast one loop formatiom. said platebeing: formed with a recess extending inwardly from the confronting facethereof at a point where the groove would normally intersect itself in across over at one end of a loop formation if there were no recess, ablock secured inwsaidlrecess. and being formed on one face with. a.grooveconnected in communicationwith the two ends .offsaid groove insaid' plate which would normally. be one portion. ofv the cross over andbeing formed" on the other. face .with..a groove connected incommunication with the two ends of'said groove in said plate whichnormally would bethe other portion ofthe cross over, and an. opaqueshields received in .the portions of said. plate. groovebetween.

adjacent ones of said' letters for rendering said.- plate grooveportions non-luminous.

References Cited inthe file of'this patent UNITED: STATES PATENTS.

L825,399'i Hotchner- Sept. 29; I931 1,865,253 Hotchner June 28'," 1932'2,156,145.65 Mahlck" Apr. 25, 1939 2,158,968 Moffat .May 16, 1939'2,296,893 Austin Sept. 29, 1942 2,621,430: Neville Dec. 16, 19 52"FOREIGN PATENTS 400,646 Great Britain Oct: 26, 1933

